Shovel.



C. T. POSTEN.

SHOVEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.1917- w m M EJwumtoz (j- T- FosTEN CURTIS THORNTON POSTEN, 0F FLEMING, KENTUCKY.

sHovnL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Apr. so, ioi.

Application filed July 21, 1917. Serial No. 182,076.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, Ounrrs T. Pos'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fleming, in the county of Letcher and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shovels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in shovels and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character whereby the body or the blade of the shovel is raised above the surface when said body or blade is forced in the work so that no obstruction or hindrance will be offered by nails or the like extending above the surface and which also renders the shovel of particular advantage in eliminating slate in shoveling coal from soft bottoms in mines or the like.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved shovel wherein certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a view in bottom plan of a shovel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the co-acting handle being shown in fragment;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the device as disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in bottom plan of a shovel constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of my invention, the co-acting handle being also shown in fragment; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating certain details of construction as disclosed in Fig. 3.

As disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 B denotes the body or blade of a shovel of a conventional type and which has co-acting there with, in a well known manner, the handle H.

Secured to the under face of the body or blade B are the longitudinally disposed.

elongated lugs or strips 1 equi-distantly spaced one from the other in a direction transversely of the body or blade B with the intermediate or central lug or strip 1 positioned at substantially the transverse center of the body or blade B and of a length greater than the side lugs whereby said side lugs terminate inwardly of the central lug.

The forward end of each of the lugs or strips 1 terminates a predetermined distance inwardly of the entering edge of the body or blade B and said forward end portion 2 is rounded and said lug or strip 1 is inclined from said rounded portion 2 inwardly toward the body or blade B whereby the forward end portion 2 is of greater thickness than the rear portion thereof.

With the use of the lugs or strips 1 it will be at once self evident that the body or blade B will be prevented from directly contacting with the surface so that no obstructions will be offered to the body or blade B by nails or the like projecting above the surface of a floor or other surface. It will also be self evident that by having the outer ends of the lugs or strips 1 terminating inwardly of the entering edge of the body or blade B, the entering edge of said body or blade B can be readily and conveniently employed to scrape up a bulk of a substance such as grain or the like. The lugs or strips 1 also serve to materially reinforce the body or blade B as is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art to which my present invention pertains. In the embodiment of my invention as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4. I set forth an arrangement which is particularly desirable in the handling of coal wherein the surface or bottom is soft. In this form of my invention the lugs or strips 1* are suitably secured to the bottom of the body or blade B in substantially thesame arrangement as has hereinbefore been set forth relative to the lugs or strips 1 with the exception that the forward ends of the lugs or strips 1 extend a slight distance in advance of the entering edge of the body or blade B.

The forward or extended portion 3 of each of the lugs or strips 1 is of increased thickness whereby a shoulder 4: is produced and with which the adjacent portion of the entering edge of the body or blade B abuts. lit is also to be understood that the upper f ce of the extended portion 3 of the lug or strip 1 is substantially flush with the upper face of the body or blade B.

In view of the foregoing it will be at once understood that a practical reinforced shovel is provided wherein the heart of the same is protected with very little more weight added and it is also to be noted that the lugs 'or strips are so positioned as to raise the body or blade sufiiciently to clear a surface from which shoveling is to be done irrespective of how the body or blade may be tilted. It will also be understood that when the body or blade B is in substantially a vertical position it may be employed with facility to scrape up particles.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a shovel constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without materially departing from the principle and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shovel provided avith longitudinally disposed lugs depending from the under surface of the blade thereof and spaced apart transversely of the blade, the side lugs terminating inwardly of the central lug, the forward ends of the lugs terminating inwardly of but in close proximity to the on tering edge of the blade.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shovel provided with longitudinally spaced lugs depending from the under surface of the blade thereof adjacent the entering ed go of the blade, said lugs being spaced apart transversely of the blades, one of said lugs being positioned at substantially the transverse center of the blade and the other lugs being positioned adjacent the side marginal portions of the blade.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CURTIS THORN'ION POSTEN. lVitnesses D. F. LlT'lLEPAGE, B. GRITES.

@optea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommlssioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

